Court Remands 10 Suspects over Ejigbo Pepper Sexual Assault
More than two years after the horrific incident, Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of an Ikeja High Court yesterday, remanded 10 persons in prison in connection with the torture of three women for stealing pepper at Oba Morufu Market in Ejigbo, Lagos, on February 11, 2013.
The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had arraigned the 10 defendants, nine men and one woman, on a 19-count charge bordering on conspiracy, attempted murder, sexual assault, malicious administration of poison, obtaining money by false pretence and deprivation of liberty.
Those arraigned are the market leader, Isiaka Waidi, Buhari Yusuf, Abdullahi Haruna and Saheed Adisa.
Others are Lateef Tijani, Ahmed Adisa, Azeez Akinosun, Jimoh Busari, Adekunle Adenuga and Oloruntoyin Dauda.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Idowu Alakija, told the court that the defendants had tortured the trio of Nike Salami, Juliana and Joke Agomo, for allegedly stealing pepper in the market.
Alakija said the women were beaten up, stripped and pepper was rubbed on their bodies by the suspects who are members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC).
The defendants were also alleged to have inserted sticks and obnoxious substances into the women’s private parts, while the incident was recorded with a mobile phone.
They were also accused of obtaining the sum of N50,000 from one Fima Agomo, who is a relative of the victims by claiming that the money would be used to repay the traders whose pepper was stolen.
According to the judge, their offences contravene Sections 44, 127 (1) 171,228 (2), 241,243, 259, 270, 312, 408 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.
Justice Ipaye ordered them to be remanded in prison custody pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications fixed for May 21.